Legal experts have not held back in their criticism of the comprehensive judgment issued by the Supreme Court in the case of the reserved seat. One expert, likening it to a ‘chargesheet’ against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), has highlighted the urgent need for the electoral body to ‘mend its ways ‘, a call that underscores the need for immediate improvement in the ECP’s conduct.
The 70-page verdict, authored by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, elaborates on the court’s July 12 order, which deemed the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) eligible for reserved seats in the national and provincial legislatures. The verdict criticized the ECP for failing to fulfil its role as a “guarantor institution” of democratic processes during the Feb 8 elections.
Barrister Rizwan Sheikh characterized the court’s majority judgment as a “charge sheet” against the ECP, emphasizing broader concerns about the ECP’s impartiality. She stressed that the judgment upheld fundamental democratic principles and the right of the people to a truly representative legislature.
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Lawyer Mudassir Rizwan described the judgment as “a well-reasoned articulation” of why the short order was issued, emphasizing that the actions of the election commission and the returning officers were illegal, and the PTI was owed a debt of justice.
Barrister Naveed Qazi highlighted the importance of the detailed judgment. He urged the ECP to ‘mend its ways’, emphasizing the court’s view that the terms ‘secured’ and ‘won’ are interchangeable. Lawyer Abdul Ghafoor Chaudhry underscored the significance of the Supreme Court’s detailed judgment, stating that it establishes basic ideas about Pakistan’s constitutional democracy and the role of the ECP within it.
Overall, legal experts commended the Supreme Court’s judgment and emphasized the importance of upholding democratic principles and preserving the people’s will.
